PAPHOS - A Paphos petrol station was briefly blockaded by station owners Friday morning. The blockade, with a number of petrol tankers parked across the entrance of the station in Mesoyia Avenia, Tsada, was lifted at around 10.35am.
Police were called as tempers rose following the attempt to open and order was quickly restored.
Petrol stations in all districts closed indefinitely from Friday as owners demand that all new licences are frozen until legislation is passed to regulate the creation of new stations.
President of the Pancyprian petrol stations’ association Stefanos Stefanou said that the decision had been a final resort after deliberations with government officials were unsuccessful.
“We had no other option but to proceed with the decision to shut down all petrol stations across the island from Friday,” a statement read.
Stefanou also said that the strike is a completely justified and necessary measure for survival at a collective and individual level.
Owners are scheduled to meet at the district offices of the small business union POVEK at 9am on Friday.